Slider for fasteners and process of making the same



Aug. 7, 1928. 1,679,784

7 G. E. PRENTICE SLIDER FOR FASTENERS AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Dec. 30, 1926 such a fastenerv andtoa Patented P'Aug. 7, "192 8.

UNITED-STATES PATENT ora -cs.

GEORGE raim'rxcn, or, B RLIN, commcrmur.

simian son rasrnnnasmn rnocnss or mine in sum.

Application its December to, 1926. Serial No. '157'952. a

This invention'pertains to separable fas} teners ofthat general type of which an earliv example is disclosed in the patent. to Ju 'son No. 504,038,1kugust 29, 1893, and relates.

reced'e. The continued successful operation of such'a slider is dependent upon the accurate maintena-nce'of the relative positions ofthe wings, but as .the wings canbe united at or near one end only, and as the slider is subjected to severe strains tending to wedge the Wings apart and otherwise to distort it, difficulty has been the slider sufficiently rigid without making it unduly heavy and cumbersome. From practical consideration it is to keep the slider as small and light in weight as possible and in particular to. avoid making it unduly thick from front to rear, while low cost of production also is an essential desideratum. Commonly such sliders have been made from sheet'metalparts, the

necessary stiffness and strength being 4. ob-- tained by, assembling a yoke member with.

the wings", but this mode of manufacture requires the formation of several independent" pieces and their subsequent.assemblage,'all

of which increases thecost of production, 'I

and even when completed such built-up sliders are not'always ofpleasing appearance or as light in weight or as strong as might be desired. Y

wings and the reinforcing element are made of unitary or integral construction, such a process apparently being disclosed vin the British patent to- Kuhn-Moos No. 14,358, dated, January 19, I912. While this latter mode of procedure results=in 'a stiff and lstrongslider, the process is difficult and ex pensive, the slider is heavier than is to be 'des red, and an excess amount of metal is consui'ned; a

experienced' in making desirable r -'-'In'Fig. 1 of the drawl Certain attempts. have been made to form 1 and 2 designate apair of stringers or tapes sliders'by a die casting process or similarprocedure, in accordance with "which the 1 v '1 In accordance with the present'invention I combine the advantages of the sheetmetal construction, to wit, light weight, low pro-4.

duction cost, and small dimensions, with the inherent stiffness and rigidity'o'f a unitary construction such as heretofore has not been obtainable so far as I-am aware only ,by-die castin or a similar-process, while the improve slider iscapable of withstanding heavy stress without substantial distortion.

In the accompanying drawings;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation to large scale, showing a fastener of the general type above referred to provided with a slider constructed in accordance with the present nvention;

. Fig'. 2'is a frontelevation .of the same slid}:

er removed from the stringers; v

Fig.3 isga side elevationof. the-slider of Fig.2; Fig. 4 is a lan view of ablank suitable for'use in'ma ing-the improved slider and indicating certain preliminary operations which have been performed u on the blank; Fig. 5 is an edge view. 0 the-blank of Fig; 4; 6'6 of 'Fig. 4; g

Fig. 7 is a view similar mFig. 4'but showing the blank at a subsequent-'- stage of the process;

'Fig. 8 is an edge-view blank-as.

shown in Fig. 7 f Fi 9 is, a section on the line 9-9 of -51;. Fig. 10 is a section substantially on the 'line 10-10'.of Fig. 3; and 1 i s is'a section substantially'on the is;

Fig. 11. is a fragmentary"section onthe line 11-11 of Fig. 10.:

ngs the numerals two series-are of identical construction, each' comprising a socket and a locking pin, the i v fastener elements of the opposed series being staggered so that they may be brought into intermeshing engagement wherein the. lock-- ing pin of the elementof one series engages the socketof the next adjacent element Of' 'the'opposed series. Whilethis ty e of fastener' is hereinillustrated, it is to e under- I that the improved slider 4 forming 1 prises the relatively wide end portions or wings 5 and 6 designed to constitute the front and rear plates of the slider, said wide ie-nd portions being integrally united by the relatively narrow band or neck 7 i Asabove stated, this blank is preferably formed by blanking it from a piece of sheet material, and either concomitantly with the blanking operation or subsequently thereto I form the longitudinally extending. shallow; ridge 8,'Fig."6. This ridge runs the entire length "Of'tllO neck and to the free ends of the wings 5 and 6.. At the same time with Or subsequent to the formation of the ridge 8 I pierce the material of one of .the wings, for example, the wing 6, to

'form openings 1.1 adjacent to the opposite edges of the ridge 8 and end of the latter.

Having provided the blank with this ridge and.openings, I next proceed. to fold the blank preferably by compressing the ridge 8' laterally so that the opposite portions of preferably near the the ridge 8 are brought into substantial parallelism as inEig. 9, forming the walls 8 and-8 of a narrow rib 12 projecting perpendicular to theplane of the blank and of the same v longitudinal dimensions as the original ridge 8. In thus folding the. ridge 8 I cause the openings 11 and 12. to bebrought into alignment, thus forming in effect a s ngleopening 18 extending through-the entire thickness of the 'rib 12 elo'sely adjacent to the wing 6. Since the rib 12 is formed by afolding operation the strength of 'the .metal is not impaired, whereas, were the rib embossed, the metal would be drawn out,

thinned and' stra ned, and theresulting slider would have but a. small percentage of the strength of the slider made by folding.

, Either prior to or subsequently to the folding of the ridge to form the 'rib' 12 I prefer to indent theneck 7 at opposite sides upon the opposite side of the blank, such -'or beveled form.

of the ridge or rib to. provide elongate depressions 14 and. 15 respectively, forming corresponding bulgeso'r rounded surfaces roundedsurfaees being indicated at 14 and- 15 in Fig. 1.1.-

for the. ends triangular section'9 at each end-of theridge t3, which-results, asshown in Fig. 8, in giv-' mgthe ends of the folded rib 12 an inclined Either prior "to or subsequently to thefl such flanges being intended to constitute the 4 channels.

construction, the integralfold of metal conterial.

-completionof therib 12 and the formation of the indentations-Hand 15, I turn in the lateraledges of the wings 5-and 6 to for1n the guide flanges 16 and 17 respectively,

outer. walls of' guide ciannel's for the fas-' tener elements 3, while the rounded projections 14: and 15 on the inner surface of the neck constitute the inner walls of these Having completed the above operations, I

now bend the blank at the neck portion transversely of its length so as-.to curvethe neck and bringthe wings 5 and 6 into substantial parallelismas indicated inFig. 3. The slider is now substantially complete ex-. cept for the provision of a pull device to facilitate operation of the slider. Such a pull device 18 maybe blanked from sheet,

material and is provided with an openimg; at 19 and with opposed pintle lugs 20 and 21. In applying the pull device 18 to the slider'the pintle lugs 20 and 21 may be bent .or sprung apart sufiiciently to enable them to be snapped into the opening 13' from op'-. 00 posite sides, the opening 19 inthepull device receiving the end portion of =the rib 12.; Preferably the opening 13 is more or less elongate to permit some up anddown movement of the pull device whereby to facilitate actuation 'of the sliderin opposite directions, but such elongate opening is .not necessary and. a simple pivotal connection between the'pull device and the-slider proper is all that is essential. The slider thus provided is appliedto the stringers in the usual mannenthe fastener elements being disposed in the divergent channels provided by the flanges 16 and." 17

' single piece of metal and that it is produced by blanking and folding operations of a.

type which maybe performed. with extreme rapidity and by slightly skilled labor. There are no parts to become separated after the slider is completed, with the possible exception of the pull device, while the slider, proper is of extremely rigid and substantial 12o stituting the rib 12 furnishing. the maximtnn stiffness for a given amount of ma- While -,a single longitudinal .rib substan-.,- tially midway of the width of the slider is here described and shown, I contemplate that under. some circumstances more than. one rib may be rovided if such shouldproye desirable;- also contemplatethat variations in dimensions. of h a t j productionof theg slidermay circumstances may in'dicate to be desirable and further .that the pull device may be in the sequenceof steps employed in the att chedin other ways than that here shown or that more than onepull device may be' provided if desired,

"Iclaim: p 1. .A' slide! for classdescribed comprising spaced wings of sheet. material, united at .one end by a neck,

and. a. fold in the niaterial of said neck constituting-a projecting stiffening rib;

2. A slider comprising-fiat wings of'sheet material connected adjacent .to' one end and having inwardly directed edges forming diverging channels, and arelatively narrow neck connectingthe wings at a po 'nt between .the diverging channels, said neck and w ngs verging channels, said a material, sa d fold slider having a stifi; ening'yokeconsisting of a fold in the sheet being integrally united between said wings and with the connection having ends extendin g longitudinally of each wing toward the free ends ofthe'latter.

'3. A slider comprising wings defining diconsisting of a. unitary piece of sheet Ina-'- terial, the slider having an external U-shaped stiffener yoke consisting of an integral told in the sheet material. v 4. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described comprising a piece of sheet material doubled-to provide spaced front and rear wings and a neck connecting said wings at one end, and an external fold in thesheet material constitutinga continuous rib. projecting from the outer surface of the wings and said neck.

5. A sliderfor separable fasteners of the class (lGSCIlbGd' comprising an integral pece ofsheet material doubled to provide spaced front and rear wings and a neck connecting said wings at one end, and a U-shaped stiffener yoke consisting of a fold in the sheet material, the central portion of the yoke projecting from the neck and the legs ot the yoke projcctingfroin the respective wings. Y

6. A slider for separable fastener s ofthe class describedcomprising a piece of sheet' material provided with wideend portions or wings and a relatively narrowneckportion 'uniting'the wings, the neck being curved and the wings being spaced apart and substantiallyparallel, said piece of material having adorigitudinally extending fold providing a stifi'ening. rib, said rib extendingaround the neck and longitudinally ,of the wings.

I. A slider for separable fasteners of the class described comprisinga piecev of sheet material provided with wide end portions or.

wings and. a relatively. narrow neck portion and the wings being uniting the wings, the neck being curved spaced apart and substantially parallel,'.said piece of material be made as;

separable fasteners of the.

Having a longitudinally extending fold pro viding a stiflen'ng rib, said rib extending around the curved neck and longitudinally..- of the wings, the end portions of. the rib 4 "9. A Slldel'.f0l separable fasteners the class described comprising spaced wings of sheet material, and a fold in the material of at least one jecting outwardly from the exterior surface fot the wing tojform a stiffening rib, said rib having .a transverse opening therethrough, and a pull device having a piyot member engaging said open ng.-

- 10. A slider for separable fasteners of the of said wings, saidffold .pro-

class described comprising, spaced wings 0t.

' sheet material, and a fold in the material of at least'one of said wings, said fold projectfrom theexterior surface of form a stifieningrib, said -r-b ing outwardly the wing to.

having an elongate transverse opening therethrough, and a pull device having oppositely .dire'cted pintle members engaging Said 7 opening. a I

11. A slider for separable .fasten-ers of the.

class described comprising a piece of sheet n'iater'al doubled to provide spaced wings.v

and a neck uniting the w ngs, the material of the neck havingfan outwardly directed stiffening fold at its center, and being bowed inwardly at each side otthe fold to provide rounded guide surfaces at'its inner side.

' 12; A slider for separable fasteners of the class described comprisng a piece of sheet material doubled toprovide. spaced wings and a neck uniting .the' wings, said piece of material-having a longitudinally extending outwardly projecting fold at its center, said fold extending. over the neck and longitudinally of thewings, the neck at each side 01. the fold having a shallow inwardly. dia- 3rected rib providingspaced guide surfaces at its inner side.

13. That process of making a slider'of'the I class described comprising, as steps provid- 'ing a sheet metal 'blank'gwith an integral elongate fold having ts opposite side walls in -.contact, and bending the blank transversely'to the length of the fold to bring its end portions into parallel relation with the fold projecting from the outer surface of-the'blank. 1

14.That process of making a. slider of the class described which comprises as steps blanking a blank from sheet material, said blank having wide endportions or wings connected by a rel-ativelynarrow neck, fold-i ingthe blank to-form a rib lengthwise of the neck and wings, and bending the neck vto bring the wings into substantial paralleling a sheet metal blank having wide end portions or wings and a relatively narrow neck connecting said wings, forming a ridge extending longitudinally of the neck and wings,vlaterally folding said ridge-to form a rib, and" bending the neck to bring the wings into substantial parallelism. 16. That process of making a slider of the class described which comprises preparing a sheet metal blank having wide end portions or wings and areIatively narrow neck connecting said wings, forming a ridge extending longitudinallyof the neck, folding said ridge to form a'narrow outstanding rib, and

bending'ithe neck and, its rib until'the'wings are substantially parallel.

. 17. l"hat .process of making alslider of the class described which comprises as steps pre paring a blank from sheet material, said blank having a. relatively narrow neck unit ing wlder end portions or wings, form1ng-a longitudinally extending shallow U-shaped i eral marg ns-of thewings to define the outer edges. of the guide channels, indenting the ridge in the blank, piercing'the blank at opposite sides of the ridge to -f0rm openings, and laterally compressing the ridge to bring its sides into contact whereby to form a rib-likefold substantially perpendicular to the plane of the strip and to bring said open"- ings into alignment.

' 18. That process -of making a-sliderlof the class described which comprises preparing als'heet metal blankfhav-ing'wide end portions or win'gs-and a relatively narrow neck connecting said wings, piercing. one wing to provide laterally spaced openings, formin afold in the material of the blank, saidf fdld extending longitudinally ofthe neckand into the Wings, the folding of the material bringing said openings into alignment, and connect1ng a pull device to the slider by means engaging said aligned openings.

' 19 That process-0f making a slider of the nectiug said wings, foldingthe metal o fthe" neck to provide a narrow rib projecting substantially perpendicularto the plane of the neck and extending longitudinally thereof,

impressing the metal on either side-of the rib to form -low vridges upon the opposite face of the neck, and bending the neck to bring the wings into ara'll el relation with the rib at the outer SIdB of the bend Q 20.. That process of making a slider ofthe class described: which comprises. preparing a sheet metalblank-having' wide'end pertions or wings and a relatlvely narrow neck connecting said. wings, forming a longitudinal :t'old in the blank extending along the its neck and into each wing, turning in the lat-' neck at opposite sides of the fold to form the inner walls of said channels, andbending the blank at the neck to bring the wings linto substantially "parallel relation.

Signed b me at Berlin, Connecticut, this 27th day 'o December, 1926.

' GEORGE E. PRENTIGE; 

